Washington State Legislation

In 2007, Washington state governor Christine Gregoire signed a bill that supports the use of shared decision making and patient decision aids for preference-based treatment decisions that involve elective surgery. The state legislature noted that the use of high-quality decision aids, which outline the benefits, harms, and uncertainties of various treatment options, improves doctor-patient communication and leads to more fully informed patient decisions.

Washington also became the first state to enact legislation establishing increased legal protection to physicians whose patients sign an acknowledgement that patient decision aids were used during informed consent.